Dr. Hallowell's desire to become a psychiatrist came from a place of love—he loved his family and wanted to help them, even if they were, as he has said, “certifiably crazy.” He credits his feeling of love and connection to his family, friends, and mentors as the thing that helped him beat the odds and build a happy, successful life, even if it was seasoned by many harrowing moments.

Because I Come from a Crazy Family is in many ways a paean to the mentally ill and those who love them. Dr. Hallowell is honest about these complicated relationships and the difficult years of his own life that accompanied them, and he hopes that this honesty will inspire others to destigmatize the “crazy” in their own families.